Unleash Your Inner Indiana Jones on a Volunteer Dig

University of Florida volunteer Rachel Kalisher removes soil from a 1-square-meter fine grid marked with string at the Tel Kabri archaeological site in northern Israel. Volunteer archaeology is the January-February cover story for Biblical Archaeology Review.Noah Wiener

"When new volunteers excavate pottery on the first day of a dig, they are usually disappointed by the reactions of the dig's veterans," he writes. "Often the find gets tossed. The project's old hands confirm the pottery’s antiquity, only to frustrate the new volunteer by shrugging off the relative insignificance of an out-of-context or non-diagnostic find. The old-timers know the real excitement is still to come."

But over the course of days and weeks, volunteers are likely to sample not only the down-and-dirty chores of doing a dig, but also the modern-day environment surrounding the excavation.

The possibilities aren't limited to the Holy Land: The Archaeological Fieldwork Opportunities Bulletin, compiled by the Archaeological Institute of America, lists excavations that span Europe, Africa, the Americas and Asia. Many of these opportunities are geared toward students seeking academic credit. Accommodations range from four-star hotels to home stays to bring-your-own-tent.

More resources for volunteers, students and job seekers interested in archaeology and anthropology can be found on the ShovelBums website and Facebook page.

Sightseeing plus scienceEarthwatch Institute specializes in expeditions that blend sightseeing with science — focusing not only on archaeology, but also on climate research, biodiversity and ocean health. "We get a lot of interest in topics relating to ocean health, like whales, dolphins, sea turtles and coral reefs," Katie Hunt, the institute's senior writing manager, told NBC News in an email.

A volunteer sorts archaeological finds in Thailand during an Earthwatch expedition.Earthwatch Institute

And then there's the mammoth graveyard in South Dakota. "This is our longest-running expedition and is always very popular, thanks to a loyal band of past Earthwatch volunteers who keep going back," Hunt said.

Earthwatch offers expeditions for every season of the year, but most of the trips are scheduled during the Northern summer. Hunt advises travelers to book their tour at least 90 days before the first day of an expedition.

Digging for dinosaursIf paleontology is your passion, you'll have to do a little extra digging for volunteer opportunities. "Many museums take on volunteers, but you need to email the curator directly to do so," said Brian Switek, who writes about his own dinosaur adventures on hisLaelaps blog and his latest book, "My Beloved Brontosaurus."

The Encana Badlands Science Camp, presented by the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Alberta, offers all the makings for a dino-crazy kid's summer vacation — including fossils to hunt for, campfires to sit around and teepees to sleep in.